Chelmsford City 3-1 Weymouth: Terras make worst start since 1908/09 season

Blackwell 17, 34, Jones 90+5

WEYMOUTH 1

Blair 50

WEYMOUTH have made their worst start to a league season for 114 years after a 3-1 defeat to Chelmsford City in the Vanarama National League South.

The Terras were 2-0 down at half-time through Tom Blackwell’s brace, but Tom Blair gave Weymouth a lifeline on 50 minutes.

Weymouth pushed for a leveller but City broke away in stoppage-time as sub Callum Jones put the game to bed.

Defensively Weymouth were found wanting again, the Terras now having conceded 12 goals in four games.

READ MORE: Chelmsford City 3-1 Weymouth - how it happened

It is the second-worst record in England’s top six tiers, with only League One side Burton Albion, on 14, having conceded more.

Playing their first away game of the season, Weymouth made two changes to the side that began the 3-0 defeat against Worthing.

Brad Ash came in for Claudio Ofosu, while new keeper signing Billy Terrell was preferred to Bert White, who had no place in the matchday squad.

Billy Terrell made his Weymouth debut Picture: MARK PROBIN

Dan Gifford, Jack Seddon, Noa Boutin, Ofosu and George Ward were Weymouth's options from the bench.

Weymouth brought 18-year-old Bournemouth custodian Terrell in after Bert White's shaky start to his Terras career, the goalkeeper having shipped nine goals in three games, including a bad mistake against Ebbsfleet.

And Terrell had to be alert a matter of seconds from kick-off as City pumped a long ball forward for Harry Lodovica, who was denied by the debutant.

Chelmsford went on to dominate the first ten minutes before Weymouth enjoyed their best spell, Ash heading upwards and seconds later was denied a penalty when he went to ground.

But City made good on their start when Blackwell lashed home from a tight angle, his strike so fierce that it beat Terrell at his near post in the 18th minute.

Weymouth went 1-0 down thanks to this Tom Blackwell goal Picture: MARK PROBIN

Weymouth had their first shot on target seven minutes later when Tom Bearwish’s deflected shot found the gloves of Clarets’ keeper Ovie Ejeheri.

Weymouth’s defending has been costly this season so far and another poor moment at the back contributed to them going 2-0 down on 34 minutes.

The Terras could not clear their lines when a long shot came in, the ball finding Blackwell who took two touches to set himself and then rolled the ball past Terrell.

Weymouth nearly responded instantly when Blair’s cross picked out Keelan O’Connell in the area, the forward’s header somehow denied by Ejeheri’s shoulder - the keeper knowing little about the save.

Near the end of the half, Bearwish was flattened by a heavy tackle, prompting a melee, but Ash was only denied by the post from the free-kick as Weymouth’s lack of luck continued.

However, they got back into it on 50 minutes when Bearwish’s shot was parried by Ejeheri and Blair was on hand with the finish to make it 2-1.

Tom Blair scored his first goal of the season to make it 2-1 Picture: MARK PROBIN (Image: MARK PROBIN)

Chelmsford picked up two bookings in a minute when Lodovica prevented Terrell taking a goal-kick and then Cameron James was booked for tripping Xander McBurnie.

Weymouth were on top at this stage and a huge change for 2-1 then passed the Terras as O’Connell somehow shot wide when clean through.

Keelan O'Connell missed a big chance for Weymouth in the second half Picture: MARK PROBIN

McBurnie blazed over from distance before sub Claudio Ofosu made a brilliant cross for Ash, whose deflected effort crept wide.

Chelmsford replied when Devonte Aransibia rocketed a shot over from distance and Lodovica glanced a header wide from a corner.

Lodovica simply could not score despite his best efforts throughout the afternoon as he curled wide, but he did pressure Terrell into giving the ball away, only for sub Freddie Hockey to shoot wide as the goal beckoned.

Weymouth pushed in stoppage-time with two corners but it was Chelmsford who made the telling impression on the break.

Sub Jones was the beneficiary as he coolly put the game out of sight for City, sending the Terras spinning to a fourth consecutive loss, having kept up the unwanted record of shipping three goals in each defeat.

Chelmsford: Ejeheri, James (Ochieng 64), Barnum-Bobb, Trotter, Winfield, Oluwo, Aransibia, Lodovica, Jackson (Jones 64), Blackwell (Hockey 78), Vaz.

Subs not used: Dunne, Ruff.

Terras: Terrell, Nippard, Kyprianou (Boutin 64), McBurnie, Matsuzaka, Carlyle, O'Connell (Ofosu 64), Bearwish, Ash, Blair (Gifford 85), Murray.

Subs not used: Seddon, Ward.

Referee: Matthew Norton

Attendance: 712